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I'm thinking about running my '54 through this year in August. A little expensive as it's $1,500 to enter for a Friday or Saturday spot and the hotels are through the roof. Does anyone have any experience with this auction compared to others? I was thinking about trying BJ Scottsdale in January but no reserve makes me a little nervous.
It is a coin toss on putting a car in an Auction. But if you decide to do it you can bet it is going to cost you a couple grand or more if it don't bring what you want at Reserve even if you do not sell it and maybe more if you do. If it sells at No Reserve you could make $$$$ or you could loose $$$$ it is all in how the cards fall or in how the bidders raise there hands.
As for me I do not sell thru the auctions but I did buy only 1 car at Auction and sold it before I paid for it to another guy. I was lucky
Last edited by Mike Terry; May 7, 2017 at 11:26 AM.
Mecum Monterey is different that other Mecum sales. There are a lot more high end cars and exotics and the sale prices do seem to be higher than other sales. I don't know what they charge for other venues, so I can't compare the fees. You are right about the hotel cost. I live in Carmel and I know that rooms are hard to find during car week and many motels require a minimum stay. One option is to stay in Salinas or Santa Cruz. Both are close enough to Monterey to be workable and the prices are a lot lower. Salinas is closer and there are a lot of hotels there. Santa Cruz is a beach town, so summer rates are already elevated. If you have not been to Monterey car week, It is a bucket list item for many folks and you could justify the higher cost as part of the overall experience.
From: On the bank of the Columbia River..... Washington State
Have run many cars thru both auctions you mentioned in past 15 years. Have made far more money than lost. Have never been to Monterey, but my gut is that it will be filled with high dollar cars for the most part. BJ Scottsdale is a great circus and car show, Mecum events that I have been to, not as much. I would not hesitate to try the venue in Monterey as the most you will be out are the costs of running your car thru. A good friend just agreed to run his entire collection of 9 cars thru at Mecum Portland in June......
Monterey is more for exotics, not muscle cars. Now that mecum wants 10percent commission from sellers, I wouldn't bother. I quit using Mecum 3 years ago after they beat me up about the price I wanted for my split window. The only mecum auction I would even consider in the future would be Kissimmee and that's a big maybe.
Monterey is more for exotics, not muscle cars. Now that mecum wants 10percent commission from sellers, I wouldn't bother. I quit using Mecum 3 years ago after they beat me up about the price I wanted for my split window. The only mecum auction I would even consider in the future would be Kissimmee and that's a big maybe.
Yep. It's 10% with a reserve, 5% without now. Seems like Dana and Frank seller wheeling and dealing on the block has tightened up, too.
I don't know if I would classify a 1954 Blue Flame six with 155 hp a muscle car. While it is exotic, I'm not sure it would classify as an exotic, either. Lot's of money in the house, though. I just need two that think it's cute and that it would look nice next to their Stutz Series K Bearcat in the garage.
The Mecum Auction in Anaheim held toward the end of the year was about 10 minutes from my shop, but it was eliminated from the schedule this year. Prices were always soft there, anyway. I think that's part of the reason BJ left Costa Mesa a few years ago. No money.
Yep. It's 10% with a reserve, 5% without now. Seems like Dana and Frank seller wheeling and dealing on the block has tightened up, too.
I don't know if I would classify a 1954 Blue Flame six with 155 hp a muscle car. While it is exotic, I'm not sure it would classify as an exotic, either. Lot's of money in the house, though. I just need two that think it's cute and that it would look nice next to their Stutz Series K Bearcat in the garage.
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Randy there are 5 other auctions going on during the Monterrey Car Week. Maybe you could contact them for prices and different crowd for your car. They may even know of potential buyers for your car. There are some serious buyers in town during this week. Hotel room rates are insane during the week!! Most are probably sold out already. I made my hotel reservations months ago.
Since you are located nearby, it might be worth a try, but I doubt you will hit a home run. My earlier point was that the big cars that draw the attention at Monterey seem to be mostly rare race cars, Ferraris, Jaguars, etc. When i went to the Monterey auction 4 years ago, I noticed that the fifties-seventies American made cars were not getting as much attention or selling well.
I see what Dana Mecum is trying to do, but my thoughts are that he is getting greedy! Not that he wasn't previously, but now more so than before.
Last edited by 65silververt; May 8, 2017 at 05:59 PM.
I took one car to Russo Monterey and I agree with the above, skip Monterey. Big time cars rule and others languish. If you do decide to go stay in Salinas as we do when we are racing at the Historics. BIG price difference! GLWS
Mecum Monterey is different that other Mecum sales. There are a lot more high end cars and exotics and the sale prices do seem to be higher than other sales. I don't know what they charge for other venues, so I can't compare the fees. You are right about the hotel cost. I live in Carmel and I know that rooms are hard to find during car week and many motels require a minimum stay. One option is to stay in Salinas or Santa Cruz. Both are close enough to Monterey to be workable and the prices are a lot lower. Salinas is closer and there are a lot of hotels there. Santa Cruz is a beach town, so summer rates are already elevated. If you have not been to Monterey car week, It is a bucket list item for many folks and you could justify the higher cost as part of the overall experience.
Doc
I've been to Mecum Monterey a few times and I agree it's very different from any other Mecum event. I do think the sales prices are higher there but it's absolutely true that it's more expensive to enter. On both venues you mention (Mecum Monterey and BJ Scottsdale) it seems to me it depends on what your expectations are. If you are counting on top dollar, you could be disappointed. At least at Mecum, you could decide not to sell if the bottom dollar reserve in your head is not met and worst case scenario is, you have fun at a great event and maybe visit some of the other great events that week as well.
I have a friend who is VP of Marketing at Laguna Seca. I could offer him $100 a night for a bed and shower.
I'm with Brett...
At least at Mecum, you could decide not to sell if the bottom dollar reserve in your head is not met and worst case scenario is, you have fun at a great event and maybe visit some of the other great events that week as well.
Because of health issues at home I'd like to sell it but I don't want to be a victim if the bidding isn't there. At least at Mecum, if I don't like the price, I can bring it home. Because Monterey is a one day trip I can load it in my own trailer and be there in the afternoon. Most other auctions (except for BJ Scottsdale which is about 360 miles away) I will be adding shipping or more driving mileage if I take it myself, possibly balancing out the higher consignment fees at Monterey.
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Mecum Monterey. Thoughts?
